Irish Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Brendan Smith TD and Minister of State with responsibility for Fisheries, Sean Connick TD, launched Bord Iascaigh Mhara’s (BIM’s) new three year strategy (2010–2012) and the Irish Seafood National Programme to 2013.
BIM’s new strategy document concentrates on avenues to deliver essential developmental services to a seafood industry undergoing rapid and unparalleled change.
The seafood authority has targeted the creation of 600 jobs, an additional €50 million ($64.5 million) in value-added seafood sales, and greater differentiation of 40,000 tonnes of Irish seafood products worth €120 million ($154.8 million) by 2012.
“I have consistently stated that the seafood sector, made up as it is of indigenous operators, will have a significant role to play in Ireland’s economic recovery,” said Smith.
“BIM’s new strategy is a welcome addition to the suite of harmonised strategies for the seafood sector including Steering a New Course, Sea Change, as well as Food Harvest 2020. It adds to and fully complements the existing strategies and positions Ireland well to maximise the very large opportunities which are presenting themselves in the international seafood markets.”
Focusing on the national programme for the development of the seafood sector, Connick said: “The measures contained in this programme are the tools to enable the government and its agencies to deliver on the objectives contained in the suite of seafood focused strategies, and places Ireland in a promising position to capture some of the undoubted opportunities which are emerging in both the international and domestic seafood markets.”
He said the proposed investments in the seafood industry constitute a significant vote of confidence by the government in the sector.
“The programme envisages a significant state investment into the Irish seafood sector from now until the end of 2013. A dedicated allocation of €6.5 million ($8.4 million) is being made available for the remainder of 2010 for the development of the aquaculture and processing sectors. While the programme also facilitates access to other funding from Bord Bia for marketing, from Enterprise Ireland for processing, and from BIM for added value and innovation and fisheries support.”
Connick said the launch of these “two complementary initiatives” to drive forward the development of a modern, high value-added, sustainable and expanding seafood sector is an important event in delivering the real opportunities which exist for income generation and enhanced employment in Ireland’s coastal communities.
